Sooke Real Estate, Living, and Community Blog by Tim Ayres

Posts tagged ‘christmas’

Last night, I piled the family in the car and went out in search of the best Christmas lights displays in Sooke. While I didn’t have time to drive every street in Sooke, I think I covered a lot of ground, from up Otter Point Road, over to Broomhill, down Whiffen Spit, and Sunriver Estates. I’d love to share what I found with you! Read more

T’was the week before Christmas, and you’ve done it again – no presents, no gifts; shopping left ’til the end!

It’s the same old story every year. You tell yourself: “Next year, I’m starting my Christmas shopping in September!” and yet here we are, with gifts still to buy, packed parking lots in Victoria, and eggnog to drink in the fridge (which is much more fun). So why not finish up (or start and finish) your Christmas shopping here in Sooke? Here are a few suggestions: Read more

The annual Sooke Santa Skate, put on by our team at Royal LePage Coast Capital Realty and SEAPARC, will be held this Sunday, December 20th, 2009 at the SEAPARC Arena. Join us from 1:30 until 3:00 for a fun, family event. Admission is by donation of non-perishable food items, new, unwrapped toys, or cash to support Sooke families in need this Christmas.

Your local REALTORS® from the Royal LePage Coast Capital office will be on hand passing out free and tasty hot chocolate and hot dogs and collecting your generous donations. Skate rentals are also included if you do not have your own. Bring your camera and get a memorable picture with Skating Santa Claus!

Last year’s event was a success, despite having been postponed due to adverse road conditions brought on by the wild winter weather we had last December. Hopefully we’ll have a typically mild day, making it easy for everyone to safely get to the arena.

Last night, my wife and I got out and enjoyed the crisp December evening and headed out to world-famous Butchart Gardens on the Saanich Peninsula. Every year they decorate the gardens in thousands of lights, creating a truly magical Christmas experience. Despite the sub-zero temperatures, it was a gorgeous, starlit evening, and the lights were amazing. The gardens are decked out in a Twelve Days of Christmas theme, so along the garden paths there are little vignettes displaying the different parts of the famous song. It was fun to hear everyone reciting or singing “fiiiiiive golden rings” and so on as they approached the various displays along the route.

I brought along my camera, tripod and shutter release to get some long exposure shots of the lights. Lights at night are one of my favourite things to photograph, and I think the results turned out quite well.

A large cedar with lots of presents

There was a brass quartet playing Christmas carols, a carousel, and a skating rink set up for all to enjoy. The admission might seem a little steep at $23.50 for adults (lots less for kids, price list here) but if you buy a yearly pass and go more than twice it pays for itself (many will go once a season, or more if you have guests in from out of town).

I hadn’t been out to Butchart Gardens in about 5 years or more, and I had forgotten how lucky we are to have such a world-class attraction in our back yard. It truly is a top-notch operation and it’s no surprise how popular it remains, after over 100 years in existence.

Shopping: The parade route in the centre of town will feature concessions selling holiday treats and gifts, and many Sooke businesses will have special Spirit Festival deals!

Santa Claus Parade: Starting at 2:30, the big guy in red will travel down Sooke Road through the centre of town.

Sailpast: Led by the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary, celebrate Sooke’s maritime heritage and enjoy the lighted parade of boats of all sizes from the Rotary Pier or Whiffen Spit.

Music: The fabulous Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra will be performing Bach’s Christmas Oratorio at the Sooke Community Theatre at 7:30. Don’t miss it! This is a paid event with a portion of ticket sales benefiting the Sooke Christmas Bureau. Info at SookePhil.ca

We have been blessed with fantastic weather this year, and while it will be cool and crisp, there won’t be rain (or a snow storm like last year!) This is an awesome free family event you won’t want to miss.

Other family events this year in Sooke include the Sooke Santa Skate, put on by me and the team at Royal LePage Coast Capital Realty. Stay tuned to 642Blog for more information about this other wonderful Christmas family event.

One of the oldest and biggest craft fairs on the Island goes this weekend, November 20 – 22, 2009. The All-Sooke Arts and Crafts Fair is taking place in the Community Hall building in Sooke. Over 60 exhibitors on two floors will be there, along with food and entertainment.

Come on out and get some Christmas shopping done and get ready to deck your halls this coming season! Admission is free and the show runs 10:00 – 5:00 on Saturday and Sunday and 1:00 – 8:00 on Friday.

That’s right, folks, it’s a link fest. I don’t think I’ve ever actually done one, and I’m not sure why. I read lots of stuff online and I really should share more with you.

HMCS Rudolph: The 21st annual navy lighting contest gets underway tonight at CFB Esquimalt. Protecteur, Winnipeg and Algonquin will be part of the kick-off tonight.

Skate with Santa: Just a reminder that my office is hosting the annual Sooke Santa Skate at the SEAPARC Arena this Sunday, from 2:00-3:30. It would be great to meet some of my readers.

Go Peak to Peak: One of my favourite places, Whistler-Blackcomb is opening its brand new, record-setting Peak 2 Peak Gondola this weekend. Cruising across the valley between the two world-class mountains, visitors will sail over 3 kilometres between the towers!

Radius Victoria Rises: Like a zombie, it just keeps coming back from the dead. This time, as office space until the condo market improves.

Rental Housing Scarce: Victoria, Vernon, Kelowna, and Vancouver remain some of the tightest rental markets in Canada. The CMHC doesn’t take into account basement suites or private rentals, but nonetheless demand is there enough to drive up rents about $60 this year.

The Real Thing: One of several articles I read this morning about sales of real Christmas trees being on the increase this year. Personally, I won’t allow the fake ones in the house, but obviously that isn’t an option for some people.

The Sooke Branch of Royal LePage Coast Capital Realty and SEAPARC are proud to once again be hosting the Sooke Santa Skate, which takes place this Sunday, December 14th, 21st (changed date), 2008 from 2:00-3:30 at the SEAPARC Leisure Complex. The event is free by donation of a non-perishible food item, toy, or cash to support needy local families this Christmas.

Included are skate rentals, hot dogs, hot chocolate, activities with the awesome and super-fun SEAPARC staff, and of course, the chance to skate with the big man in red himself, Santa Claus!

Special thanks to Village Foods and Western Foods for their generous support of this fun family event.

Looking for local, hand-made Christmas crafts and decorations? There are many arts and crafts fairs throughout the Capital region around this time of year. What a wonderful opportunity to support arts in your communities and find those unique gifts that are treasured by their recipients for years to come.

One of the largest and longest-running Victoria area Christmas craft fairs is the annual All-Sooke Arts and Crafts Christmas Show here in Sooke. It runs this weekend, from November 14 to 16, and features over 60 local artists and crafters displaying and selling everything from paintings, jewelry, preserves, baking, ceramics and more.

It is going on at the Sooke Community Hall, 2037 Sheilds Road, Sooke (map) and the hours are from 1:00 – 8:00 on Friday, 10:00 – 5:00 on both Saturday and Sunday.

Completely shameless plug: You won’t find my lovely wife-to-be’s Driftwood Santas there, but they will be appearing at other craft fairs in Sooke and Victoria later this month, and you can purchase them online from the comfort of your computer chair.

I am lucky enough to be engaged to a very beautiful and talented woman who loves to draw, paint and craft. She makes these lovely little Santa Claus ornaments out of driftwood and has been selling them at local craft fairs around Christmastime for the last couple of years. They’ve been very popular, so she started early this year to keep up with demand.

Available in 4 sizes and 3 colours!

I built her a website so people can purchase them online. It’s at http://DriftwoodSantas.ca – check it out and let me know what you think. She has other crafts there too, including adorable snowmen made from socks, and we’ll be adding Giant Driftwood Santas suitable for your wall or mantel soon too.

If you’d like to buy any, they’re easily and securely purchased online, or, watch the site’s blog for the dates and locations of the craft fairs that she is in starting late November.

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This blog is administered and written by Tim Ayres. Tim Ayres is a licensed REALTOR® with Royal LePage Coast Capital Realty. Tim can be reached at 250-885-0512 or 250-642-6361. Questions? Suggestions? Visit the Contact Page and let me know.